Plants capture sunlight for long-term chemical energy, while solar cells convert it directly to electricity for immediate use.
Similarity:
Both harness sunlight's energy.
Both have light-absorbing pigments (chlorophyll in plants, silicon in solar cells).
Both convert captured energy into a usable form.
Differences:
Energy conversion: Plants use sunlight to create chemical energy (glucose) for growth and fuel. Solar cells convert light directly into electrical energy.
Efficiency: Solar cells are generally more efficient, converting 10-25% of sunlight into electricity, while plants manage only 0.1-2%.
Complexity: Photosynthesis is a complex series of biochemical reactions, while solar cells rely on a simpler physical process.
Analogy: Imagine a chef (plant) using sunlight (oven) to cook food (glucose) for later consumption, while a battery (solar cell) instantly uses sunlight (charger) to power a device (calculator).
Q- How does the way plants capture and utilize solar energy in photosynthesis compare to the function of a solar cell in powering a calculator?